Our facilities are below par � Reikeletseng

Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 9, 2016 14:33

Speaking at the National Stadium handover ceremony on Wednesday, Reikeletseng said the facilities in the country do not meet international standards hence limiting Botswana’s chances of hosting major international tournaments.

“I have been the chairperson of BNSC for nine years now and this is the first time that I am complaining.  I would like to urge the Ministry of Infrastructure (Science and Technology) that the next time we meet in an event of this nature we should have a stadium with a larger capacity.  We are losing opportunities due to lack of better facilities. We have been told that we are the best country in Africa when it comes to hosting, but without a bigger facility we lose out on these opportunities,” Reikeletseng said.

 He further said the improvement of facilities would help in the development of sport and as other countries boost their economy through sports tourism, he feels it is the route Botswana should also take.

“It is not all about bringing people to come watch and compete, you also improve other human resources. Competitive nations use hosting opportunities to improve their economy. We appreciate the remodelling, but quite frankly the facility we have, has had its time,” he said.

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng echoed Reikeletseng’s sentiments saying the infrastructure has to meet international standards to increase the country’s chances to host major tournaments. “We are ready to host as a country, but the problem has been lack of infrastructure that meets international standards,” he said.  He further said plans to roof the National Stadium are moving swiftly and the ministry is looking for a site to build a stadium with a 40,000 capacity. The country’s largest stadia are the Francistown Sports Complex with a 26,000 capacity, while the newly refurbished National Stadium, which was the main venue for the 2014 Africa Youth Games has a capacity of 23,000, while Lobatse Sports Complex accommodates 20,000. The UB Indoor Sports Centre remains the only indoor sporting facility and can accommodate more than 10 different sporting codes.  The venue would be used during the Youth Netball World Cup scheduled for next year.